With the launch of the latest iMac, iLugger has likewise released a new carrying case for the new iMac line. The carrying case is made especially for the 21.5” and 27” iMac, cases well-known for their high quality make that resists tears reinforced with heavy pads to make sure that the LED screens are well-protected from bumps when mobile. These iLugger carrying cases will be available starting December 1. The case made for the 21.5” will retail for $129.99 while the one for the 27” will cost $199.99.

(Source) Press

Hyundai has revealed two new LCD monitors for the European market with the launch of the 22” W220S and the 24” W240S. These two new LCD monitors come with polarized glasses for 3D viewing and feature a 1,000:1 contrast ratio, 2 3W speakers, a D-sub, DVI and HDMI port. The W220S offers a 1680×1050 pixel resolution while the W240S comes in at 1940×1200 pixels resolution. The W220S will retail for about 748 EUROS while the W240S costs about 2,095 EUROS.

(Source) Slippery Brick

NEC has joined the likes of Dell, HP and Sony in delivering the latest all-in-one desktop PCs powered by NextWindow optical touch screens. NEC has launched the ValueStar W AIO computer which features a 21.5” touch screen is only available in Japan. The launch of the NEC ValueStar W follows the release of previous models from leading companies like the TouchSmart 300 and 600 from HP and the Dell Studio One 19 AIO.

Critics believe that the AIOs with screens larger than 16” will increase in shipment by 2010, which should not really be surprising. AIOs seem to be the new flavor in the techies mind and it seems that this is where most computer monitor makers are focusing right now.

(Source) Press

Setting up a home theater system is an art in its own right. The problem is that not all are gifted with the talent to come up with an efficient home theater system. Even if they do, you can be assured that home theater setups may be lacking as far as maximizing what they can for their current roster of equipment. Beamax aims to make sure that consumers can get the best out of their home theater peripherals with the launch of the Buyers’ Guide to Discreet Home Cinema.

The Buyers’ Guide is a plain-English explanation of the technology. Its step-by-step approach sets out the options available to homeowners for each of the major elements of a home cinema, with an explanation of what each piece of equipment does and how it works. This is a highly recommended guide especially for reference and home theater setup suggestions. You can get the guide here.

(Source) Press

Pioneer unveils another first with the launch of their Pioneer HTP-SB300 sound bar speaker system. The new sound bar system was unveiled at the CEDIA 2009 just recently which is intended for on-wall installation that should properly distribute the audio playback within a given area or setting. The Pioneer HTP-SB300 is a 3.1 channel system boasting of a 250 watt power and comes with dual center channel speakers, a wireless subwoofer and interface options that include HDMI and A/V output. The wireless system also supports most formats such as DTS, Dolby Digital Plus and Dolby TrueHD. The Pioneer HTP-SB300 is scheduled to be released in the Winter of 2009.

(Source) Pioneer

Sony unveils a new high-end Blu-ray disc DVR in the market with the launch of the Sony BDZ-RX100. It includes 2 digital tuners with 1 terabyte hard drive storage for recorded videos and support for portable media players. Among the enhancement of this new Blu-ray DVR include a new CREAS 2 engine for improved video playback and quality.

The Sony BDZ-RX100 will reportedly retail for 178,000 YEN.

(Source) Sony Style Japan

Samsung India announces another first in the LED TV industry with the unveiling of the 8000 Series LED HDTVs for the Indian market. The launch was held at the Samsung Experience Store in New York. Samsung also added new units for their other series such as the 6000 Series and 7000 Series. Here is a summary of the new LED TVs from Samsung:

• 8000 Series 55” screen size
• 6000 Series: 32” screen size
• 7000 Series: 55” screen size

These cutting edge TVs use LEDs as their primary light source, rather than traditional Cold Cathode Fluorescent Lamps (CCFL). Benefits of using LEDs include ultra-high contrast ratios, slim depths that allow for more artful designs, plus increased energy savings.

Among the highlights of the new series included:

• High Dynamic Contrast Ratios
• Auto Motion Plus Frame Interpolation Technology
• Lower Energy Consumption

(Source) Brands Today

Portability and new style is what JVC aims to bring with the launch of these new Black Series foldable headphones coming in two models: HA-M750 and HA-S650. Both are compatible and designed for the latest portable devices.

Both Black series headphones are foldable over-the-head models finished in glossy and flat black. Through the use of large driver units with carbon compound diaphragms, these headphones achieve superior bass reproduction, while the rigid carbon housing ensures optimal sound clarity because of its anti-resonance properties.

The JVC Black series headphones, the HA-M750 and HA-S650, will be available in August for $79.95 and $69.95, respectively.

(Source) Press

Acer has announced the launch of three new LCD monitors in Japan, offering quality resolution and affordable monitors that are growing in demand today. Among the common features of the three new monitors include built-in speakers and a 160/160 degree viewing angle.

The three new Acer LCD monitors are as follows together with their pricing:

• 17-inch V173Bbm ($187)
• 20-inch P205Hbmd ($176)
• 21-inch H223HQFbd ($208)

All three monitors are now available for purchase.

(Source) Slipperybrick

It looks like other countries are following the lead of the United States as far as delivering HD channels to in-home entertainment is concerned. Germany seems to be the next one who has openly announced their transition from standard channels towards digital content, something that should inspire other countries in their home entertainment needs today.

HD+ will offer satellite TV households access to new HD programmes, complementing the existing broad digital programme offer on ASTRA. Media Group RTL Germany had announced earlier that it will offer its programmes RTL and VOX in HD quality via HD+, in addition to the existing transmissions.

HD+ is independent from TV operators and offers the technical management and the marketing of HD programmes to all broadcasters. With the launch of HD+, retailers will offer receivers from established manufacturers.

(Source) Press

NextWindow scores a big one as they have become the first optical touch screen manufacturer to be given the Windows 7 logo certification. Achieving Windows 7 logo certification is a major milestone for NextWindow, whose touch screens are used in all-in-one PCs from Dell and Hewlett-Packard. The world’s largest PC manufacturers can now be confident that NextWindow touch screens will achieve the high performance standards required to run within Windows 7.

“Of course we’re excited to be the first optical touch screen manufacturer to announce Windows 7 logo certification,” said Al Monro, CEO at NextWindow. “The accomplishment is testament to the very hard work put in by our development team over the past few months. It is also a reflection of the success we’ve had building touch screens for leading PC manufacturers. NextWindow is ahead of the curve when it comes to understanding the business and technological needs of these companies. We look forward to continued success built around the launch of Windows 7 and the introduction of new touch-enabled PCs.”

With the new interface and accreditations, expect some visual solutions using the touch screen interface to balloon soon. And as far as brands are concerned, you can bet that NextWindow will be a familiar sight in that aspect in business or commercial use.

(Source) Press

A home theater experience and entertainment system will not be complete without the videos to watch. And for people who rely heavily on videos online, Truveo has just made life easier for you with the expansion towards 17 countries and a much improved video search tool that makes it easier for you to find videos. Truveo is the second largest video search engine worldwide, with 25.6 million unique visitors, 11.4 million of those in Europe.

Here is what you can expect from the latest Truveo.com:

• The most comprehensive global video index: With more than 350 million online videos from thousands of sources across the Web.3
• Quicker and easier discovery of online video content: Offering a cleaner, redesigned homepage with improved search, browsing functionality and upgraded loading times.
• More personalized control over search: Navigation that lets users browse their searches by channel, category, show, popularity and most followed on Twitter. Users can also easily filter results to find videos on their favorite websites and channels.
• The broadest coverage of videos4: Providing a greater emphasis on helping users easily find the professional videos they want, whether its popular TV shows, music videos, sports highlights, news or more. A new page dedicated to TV show listings lets users browse for shows alphabetically or by network.
• Extended share features: New tools let users save and send their favorite videos and search terms to friends and share them on Bebo, Facebook, MySpace and StumbleUpon.

“With the launch of the new Truveo.com, we are showcasing the breadth of content discoverable in our search engine,” said Pete Kocks, President of Truveo and Vice President of AOL. “With thousands of channels and TV shows in our index, Truveo has long been recognised as a leader in video search technology, and today we are building on that reputation with an improved experience that makes discovering and sharing video content even easier and more personalised.”

(Source) Press

Also on hand at the InfoComm09 for Sharp is the launch of their first short-throw projector. It combines high brightness with high image quality from its marquee BrilliantColor DLP technology. A worthy gadget to have for people who provide interactive presentations, this is one projector that can be the businessman or marketer’s friend.

The PG-F267X projector offers a 100-inch diagonal image from a distance of just 4.3 feet. It can be used perfectly for classrooms and conference rooms, depending a lot on where meetings and gatherings are held. Its multiple input capability likewise makes it ideal for use with most mobile devices and gadgets such as the RJ-45 LAN terminal for remote access and diagnosis.

“The PG-F267X increases Sharp’s presence in the education market, providing a high brightness projector for smaller presentation spaces and easy steps for operation that teachers and business professionals will appreciate.”

Features:

• Short Throw Design
• Brilliant Color and Sophisticated Image Quality
• Flexible and Easy to Use

The projector is now available from Sharp distributors for $1,895.00.

(Source) Press

With the intent to continue its drive as one of the premier video hosting sites people go to today, Metacafe gears up for the UK market by announced the launch of three new premium hubs to cater to the genres which are featured at their new home page design.

With the varied tastes aimed at business, entertainment and personal needs, Metacafe has been a prime site to check out aside from known video sharing sites such as YouTube. Another factor that was predominantly crucial was the fact that these videos are aimed at supporting marketing professionals who make use of them for their varied needs.

“Metacafe is committed to advancing online video as a media business, serving the needs of viewers, content creators and brand advertisers alike,” said Erick Hachenburg, CEO of Metacafe. “Unlike online TV destinations and video-sharing platforms, Metacafe is committed to presenting the full spectrum of content in a way that provides today’s consumers the choice they demand and enables advertisers to connect with them when and where they are immersed in the entertainment experience.”

The Three New Premium Hubs are:

• Movie Trailers, featuring HD – showcasing theatrical and home video releases from every major Hollywood studio and including HD capability
• Music Videos – featuring top artists and up-and-coming acts in Pop, Rock, Metal, Electronic, R&B and Hip Hop
• Sports Highlights – featuring a raft of premium sports content from Perform’s Omnisport.tv sports catalogue, which includes leading European club and International football, ATP tennis, PGA Tour golf and many more

(Source) Press

NEC Display Solutions of America brings the world of projectors to another level with the launch of four new digital installation projectors. The new projectors that comprise the new NP series are the:

• NP3250 ($3,999)
• NP3250W ($3,999)
• NP2250 ($3,499)
• NP1250 ($2,999)

These new power-packed projectors will be on hand at the InfoComm09 in Orlando from June 17 to 19.

The NP3250, NP3250W, NP2250 and NP1250 are equipped with Integrated Device Technology HQV processing, a high-performance video processing/scaling system designed for computer signals, as well as standard or high-definition video.

The vertical and horizontal lens shift feature and optional quick-mount lenses allow flexible projector placement to suit the needs of the room, creating a screen size from 40 inches to 500 inches.

Features:

• 1024 x 768 native resolution (1280 x 800 WXGA native resolution for NP3250W)
• 600:1 contrast ratio (500:1 for NP3250W)
• Brightness for NP3250 at 5,000 lumens, NP3250W at 4,000 lumens, NP2250 at 4,200 lumens and NP1250 at 3,700 lumens
• Power consumption of 490-watts for NP3250/NP3250W and 460-watts for NP1250/NP2250
• 3D Reform with geometry correction, which allows the user to square the image by adjusting horizontally, vertically or diagonally when the projector cannot be placed parallel or perpendicular to the screen
• Advanced AccuBlend, which ensures detailed images when non-native resolution sources are connected to the projector
• AutoSense, which automatically syncs with any computer signal and features one-touch image optimization
• Built-in wall color correction presets, which provide for adaptive color tone correction to display properly on non-white surfaces

(Source) Press

Vizio just made the lives of people addicted to high-end TV needs rougher with the launch of 31 new sets on their varied TV collection. A mixture of features that include Smart Dimming, backlight TruLED LCD technology, high-style/high performance products, and the best everyday value HDTVs.

Additionally, these are all energy-efficient products, adhering to the Energy Star qualifications that should all the more keep buyers worry free. The various lines of new TV sets will be incrementally distributed throughout the year although some are already available.

“VIZIO’s 2009 line of LCD HDTVs advances our mission to deliver the most advanced video and audio technologies to our customers with unequalled value and style,” says Laynie Newsome, VIZIO Co-Founder and VP Sales and Marketing Communications.

(Source) Press

In a couple of weeks, gamers can be able to play their favorite PS3 games with better audio quality as Logitech announced that its Logitech Harmony Adapter for PS3 will be made available around north America in a couple of weeks. Europe will see a July launch, while Australia will get it any day.

Logitech has a blog post up that offers a full FAQ on the $59.99 adapter, but the long and short of it is the accessory simply converts your Harmony’s IR commands to Bluetooth signals. For better or worse, unlike some PS3 IR dongles already on the market, the adapter requires an AC adapter.

But Logitech explains that it not only didn’t want the adapter to use up one of “your valuable USB ports,” and without an external power source, you wouldn’t be able to power on your PS3 using the adapter because the PS3’s USB ports are dead when the unit is powered off.

(Source) CNet

Thanks to the efforts and innovations in advertising of Screenvision, the first 3-D ad to cinema will be seen starting May 1. Screenvision has partnered with Wrigley brand to make this possible and will extend Screenvision’s focus to create 360 degree entertainment experiences for consumers and marketers alike. Already the 3-D in-lobby leader for advertisers, Screenvision will now also be the 3-D in-theatre leader with the launch of its first ever on screen 3-D ad.

Screenvision’s Programming Network will make the 3-D Skittles spot available through its exhibitor partners across the country with coverage in all of the top 10 DMAs. The 3-D ad will run for a five week period beginning May 1st on 762 3-D screens in 461 Screenvision represented theatres.

“Converting ads from 2-D to 3-D is a natural extension of our ongoing support of Cinema moving forward,” said Norm Chait, SVP-Director of OOH Investment and Activation, MediaVest. “MediaVest, along with our clients, recognize that our consumers go to the movies to be entertained. With Screenvision now offering the opportunity to have our messages literally jump off the screen, these new technologies help us to truly engage and captivate our core consumers in a memorable way. We are excited to be the first to take advantage of what we know will be a highly desirable consumer touchpoint.”

(Source) Press

This early, you have to wonder what LG Electronics has left for next year. With an aggressive campaign that offers a lot of new products from the LG brand, rumors have it they will be unveiling a Freeview HDTV next year.

LG will launch its first HDTV with Freeview HD built in by next year, the company says. It looks like the race is on to scrap the satellite from free high-def telly. Freeview HD is due to launch in the UK this year, and LG, which just launched its first flatscreen with Freesat built in, will launch a TV with the new tech built in by 2010, it’s let slip.

Freeview HD will offer the same 1080i rezzie as Freesat and Sky HD, but without the need for a dish or cable. Will it be enough to tempt viewers away from standard def Freeview in flocks? Here’s hoping LG can come up with a Freeview HD gogglebox that does just that.

Diguang has announced the official launch of its newest Ultra-Slim 19 inch monitors today which is to be spread all over major cities in China.

Diguang’s newest models measure only 13.3mm thick and weigh only 2.5kg, 50% of the weight of an ordinary 19-inch monitor. Diguang’s LED monitors are mercury-free and emit very low levels of VLF and ELF (very low frequency and extremely low frequency) emissions compared to television-style CRT monitors. Diguang’s energy-saving new LED monitors consume only 20 watts on average, a saving of 40% to 50% in power consumption than the comparable 19″ CCFL monitors.

Diguang’s LED monitors have numerous additional technical and operating advantages over their CCFL counterparts. They offer greater brightness, better image quality and clearer tone gradation. Adjusting the brightness does not affect how colors are displayed, as is the case with many CCFL models. Moving images flow smoothly, without the flicker seen in CCFL monitors. And Diguang’s ultra-thin 19-inch monitors can operate for 50,000 hours, equivalent to 10 hours of operation per day for 12 years, as contrasted with a typical CCFL life expectancy of 30,000 hours, or only five hours per day over a five- year span.

Features:

• Model: A1901 Screen Size: 19”
• Thickness: 13.3mm
• Weight: 2.5Kgs
• Brightness: 300cd/sq.m.
• Contrast: 100000:1(dynamic)
• Response Time: 2ms
• Visual Angle: 160/160(CR>=10)
• Max Resolution Ratio: 1440*900@60Hz
• Signal Input: Analog RGB,DVI,Display Port,HDMI
• Certificates: UL,FCC,CE,EPA,CCC

(Source) Press